Data service when traveling to Canada?

My understanding is that US cars will not have data connectivity in Canada, but Canadian cars do have connectivity in the US.

U.S. based cars will not roam on the Canadian networks, so when you cross the border, you lose web browsing, Google maps and Slacker.

Canadian based cars the last time I heard a couple of months ago will roam in the U.S. I would guess it's something with the AT&T agreement that Tesla has that prevents us from roaming in Canada. What I did was get a T-Mobile hotspot and connect the car to it through wi-fi and use it while I'm in Canada. I also use the hotspot for other purposes, so it's not just for my Model S in Canada, but it is a nice side benefit. Not necessarily a cheap solution, but that way I can continue to get data while in Canada.

The navigation will work still when in Canada (I have the Tech package, so I'm not sure what non-tech package cars do). You just have to manually enter the address and use the province abbreviation in the state field.

See 3G connection in the USA for more, as well.

Blurry_Eyed said:

U.S. based cars will not roam on the Canadian networks, so when you cross the border, you lose web browsing, Google maps and Slacker.

Canadian based cars the last time I heard a couple of months ago will roam in the U.S. I would guess it's something with the AT&T agreement that Tesla has that prevents us from roaming in Canada.

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My understanding, with no facts [i.e., heard this in discussion somewhere], is that Canadian cars are actually roaming all the time while in Canada, and come back to the mothership when visiting the US.

Ugliest1 said:

My understanding, with no facts [i.e., heard this in discussion somewhere], is that Canadian cars are actually roaming all the time while in Canada, and come back to the mothership when visiting the US.

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Correct.

Here's your proof/fact:

IP address resolves to Jasper Wireless (Florida in the last instance I tried), one of AT&T Drive's (connected car) partners while in Canada ( I have a Canadian spec car).

I tried to sweet talk my DS for a peek at the diagnostic screen so I could check the MSISDN, IMSI, and other wireless parameters, but he wouldn't bite.

With the relatively low number of Canadian cars on the market, I don't think Tesla is too concerned with the roaming bill.

This should translate into superior coverage for Canadian customers as service from Rogers (primary) and Bell/TELUS should be available.

Tesla should enable the roaming option for US customers who ask for it, though. Maybe try emailing ownership?

T-Mobile has a prepay $30 for 5 gb at 4G per month. Before I go to the states I put $30 on my account to use when I'm down there. Then it can be inactive for months until the next time I go. I use it with a mobile hotspot (Sierra Wireless 754s). It's much cheaper than Rogers ripoff roaming fees.

Canuck said:

T-Mobile has a prepay $30 for 5 gb at 4G per month. Before I go to the states I put $30 on my account to use when I'm down there. Then it can be inactive for months until the next time I go. I use it with a mobile hotspot (Sierra Wireless 754s). It's much cheaper than Rogers ripoff roaming fees.

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Yes, but were talking about the opposite scenario here. An American car coming north.

techMology said:

Yes, but were talking about the opposite scenario here. An American car coming north.

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Yes. Sorry, it's just such a great plan I forgot the topic...
http://m.cnet.com/news/is-this-the-best-smartphone-plan-ever/57587175?ds=1

Canuck said:

Yes. Sorry, it's just such a great plan I forgot the topic...
http://m.cnet.com/news/is-this-the-best-smartphone-plan-ever/57587175?ds=1

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Especially compared to the ridiculous rates we pay up here!

mknox said:

My understanding is that US cars will not have data connectivity in Canada, but Canadian cars do have connectivity in the US.

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This was not our experience on Saturday when we drove our brand-new Model S to Vancouver. I was able to browse PlugShare to look for charging stations.

gglockner said:

This was not our experience on Saturday when we drove our brand-new Model S to Vancouver. I was able to browse PlugShare to look for charging stations.

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That's interesting. I wonder if you were close to the border and still getting a US signal? There is a big problem with Canadians near the US border getting huge roaming bills because their Canadian cell phones were roaming on US networks unbeknownst to the users. Seems the US signals actually encroach a fair bit into BC. (I don't live there, but have family in Victoria and Vancouver and have heard the stories).

mknox said:

That's interesting. I wonder if you were close to the border and still getting a US signal?

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While I've seen this happen along the waterfront in Victoria, I've never seen it in central Vancouver. And though it's on a different network, my Verizon cell phone was definitely roaming.

One year ago when I last drove up to Canada my car roamed fine. When I went up again two weeks ago it did not. We turned on a mobile hotspot on a passenger's T-Mobile phone and used that instead.

T-Mobile's "Simple Choice" plans include free international data roaming, albiet at 2G speeds. That was fast enough for maps and traffic on the Tesla.

I live close to the border and we have to have data roaming turned off to avoid roaming charges but we still get the "welcome to the States" Rogers roaming text messages when down around zero avenue to about 8th Ave. Coming back home AT&T can stay on my phone to about 16th Ave at most. It would never make it to Vancouver or even out of south Surrey/Langley. I'm actually quite amazed at how they can cut the signal off at the border.

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gglockner said:

This was not our experience on Saturday when we drove our brand-new Model S to Vancouver. I was able to browse PlugShare to look for charging stations.

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Maybe this changed with the new 4 year contract Tesla recently signed with AT&T?

Canuck said:

Maybe this changed with the new 4 year contract Tesla recently signed with AT&T?

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Interesting idea. We just took delivery a week ago, so we're under the latest rules for the data plan.

Canuck said:

Maybe this changed with the new 4 year contract Tesla recently signed with AT&T?

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Maybe that's it. Certainly a number of owners from the US reported no data while in Canada earlier on.

Well, I hope confirmation of the situation for the US----->Canada types - like me - occurs quickly. In the meantime, can someone suggest what to look for (and where the most reasonable cost) for those pre-paid Canadian cell phones?

We'll be heading back to Alaska in not much more than four-five weeks. Yikes!

Still don't know if we'll take 97 all the way up through BC, or head east to Edmonton and then 45 west to Dawson Ck. But it's about time I start making RV-site charging plans!